Prevention of Ill Health: Government Vision

Anne-Marie Trevelyan Excerpts

Monday 5th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

The hon. Lady makes a great plea, which I will look into in some detail.

[Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (Con)]

We have a duty of care to support all our citizens to maintain good health by empowering employers in the private and the public sectors to motivate staff to invest time and commitment into their diet, fitness, and long-term health. How will the Secretary of State create that new ethos?

[Matt Hancock]

There is such an important role here for employers. It is not part of the culture of the UK, except in some excellent examples, that employers take a proactive view of the health of their employees. Other countries around Europe do that much, much more systematically. I am attracted to the Dutch model, but there are others, too, and I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her support in doing that.